Asa Brooks was born about 1792, in “the area outside Fort Niagara.”[1] Asa himself said he was the first white child born in this area of western New York. H. C. Taylor, who appears to have known Asa, says in his Historical Sketches of the Town of Portland: “Mr. Brooks claimed to have been the first white child b[orn] in Buffalo, N.Y. He disputed with a good deal of energy the claim to this honor with a daughter of Asa Ransom, who was afterward the wife of F. B. Merrill of Cheektowaga. Mrs. Merrill is claimed to have been the first white child b[orn] in all that region outside the walls of fort Niagara. Of the facts the writer has no means of knowing. Mr. Brooks was in Canada at the opening of the war of 1812, but soon returned and enlisted in the U. S. army. Towards the end of the war he was wounded in both arms. He came to P[ortland] in 1815, m[arried] Anna, dau[ghter] of David Joy, and for several years carried the mail between Buffalo and Erie on houseback.[2] He purchased fifty acres of land of Elijah Fay, p[ar]t lot 40, T[ownship] 5, which he occupied in 1820. He was a mason by trade and a member of the Baptist church in P[ortland]. He removed to Illinois in 1830 or ’31.”

Asa Ransom, mentioned above, was a native of Sheffield MA, who moved to the Geneva NY area ca 1789 and to the Buffalo area ca 1798; he was listed as a resident in 1801. According to William Ketchum, there were 4-5 houses in Buffalo in 1798.[3] Sylvanus Mabee came to the area in 1796-7 from Canada. There were 14 landowners in 1801, no one named Brooks, although a Judge James Brooks was in Buffalo by 1808. All previous records were burned in 1813. The 1800 census for Northampton Township, Ontario Co NY shows Asa Ransom, John Palmer, and Sylvanus Mabee on page 310, among the first names in the township.

It is the opinion of this writer that Asa was one of the numerous children of Michael and Elizabeth (Boughton) Brooks. I have these clues to Asa’s parentage:

His oldest son was Barton Brooks. I have been unable to locate any Brooks/Barton connections, but I did find a Brooks family in Western New York with strong Boughton/Baughton connections.[4]

Asa’s second son was Charles Hiram Brooks. A probable son of Michael and Elizabeth (Boughton) Brooks of Bloomfield, Ontario Co NY was Hiram Brooks.[5] I have not identified the Hiram Brooks who was next door to a likely son Charles in 1840 in Bloomfield, Ontario Co NY.

Asa was born in western NY; Michael was there before 1800.

Several members of Michael Brooks’s family moved to Illinois or other places in the west. Hiram Brooks was one county away from Asa’s family in 1850.

Asa was a Baptist; some of the Boughtons were Baptists.

After I assumed Michael Brooks was Asa’s father, I was pleased to see a bit more confirmation in the fact that Michael was found by 1820 in Genesee [later Wyoming] Co NY, much closer to Chautauqua County.

In the War of 1812, Asa served as a Private, Capt Hull’s Co, US Infantry. His lengthy pension file shows that he was shot through both arms and moved to Madison Co IL ca 1836.[6]

Asa purchased land in Chautauqua Co NY in 1817[7] and in 1820; Asa and his wife Anna sold the land in 1832.[8] Asa Brooks purchased land in Madison Co IL in 1834.[9] A Madison County history written in 1882 states that Asa was “among the early residents of the township.”[10] Additional facts about the early residents of this Illinois county are of interest. “The early settlers were almost wholly American.” And “Fosterburg has always been safely Republican.”[11]

The Federal Censuses show a growing family for Asa and Anna, who married according to Taylor about 1815.[12] In 1820, their family was in Chautauqua Co NY, Portland Twp, p 128, Asa Brooks (indexed as Ira): 100010/11100. In 1830, they were in Chautauqua Co NY: Asa Brooks, 231001/101001. In 1840, they had moved, Madison Co IL, p 148: Asa Brooks, 1023001/211001; see also the 1840 Veterans’ Census.

Asa and family were in the 1845 Illinois State census, Fosterburg Twp: Asa Brooks, 142001/34001. Anna was still alive and, based on the census record, had given birth by then to at least 16 children. My aunt Nellie (Alvis) (Becker) Penfield (1887-1980) wrote me that her grandmother was one of 18 children. Asa’s oldest son, Barton Brooks was also in the 1845 census, but had died by 1850.

Although known as a Baptist, Asa Brooks had married Anna Joy, from a Universalist family. Several of their children were baptized and joined the Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Madison Co IL after the deaths of the parents.[15]

The known children of Asa and Anna (Joy) Brooks are listed below. For some of their children, descendants are known, and only a few can be guessed from several censuses.

1. Barton BROOKS. Born in 1817 in Chautauqua Co NY. Barton died in Madison Co IL, ca 1848; he was 31. On 21 Nov 1844 when Barton was 27, he married Nancy RHOADS in Madison Co IL. They had the following children, possibly two others who died young:

George W (ca1845-1860)

Anna Catherine (ca1846-1864)

2. Mary BROOKS. Born on 26 Jan 1819 in Chautauqua Co NY. Mary died in Madison Co IL. Buried in Short Cemetery, Alton IL. On 31 Mar 1835 when Mary was 16, she married William E HILL in Madison Co IL. Born on 11 Jan 1807 in Livingston Co KY. He married first Martha Wilson, Livingston Co KY. Child with his first wife, Anthony, b ca 1830, d ca 1880. History of Madison Co IL (1882) says first son was Anthony. William E died on 25 Apr 1890. At one time this couple lived in Dickinson Co KS. They had the following children:

David L (ca1836-<1882)

Ephraim W (ca1837-<1882)

Anna M (ca1839->1882)

William Henry (1841-1901)

Mary (ca1842-<1882)

Hannah M (ca1845-<1882)

Charlotte A (ca1850->1882)

John (ca1852-<1882)

George (1854->1882)

Harriet (ca1855-<1882)

Margaret (ca1854-<1882)

John [again in census] (ca1856->1882)

Allace (ca1858-<1870)

Martha (->1882)

3. Charles Hiram BROOKS. Born on 17 Feb 1821 in Chautauqua Co NY. Charles Hiram died in Madison Co IL, on 18 Dec 1861. On 3 Feb 1848 when Charles Hiram was 26, he married Sarah Minerva HILLHOUSE in Madison Co IL. Born on 25 Jan 1827 in Bethany Twp, Livingston Co KY. Sarah Minerva died in Madison Co IL, on 23 Feb 1869; she was 42. The Henry Family by Eron M. Sharp of Memphis, Tennessee, 1961, states that “Sarah had no children of her own that helped raise children of Mr. Brooks by former marriage.”[16]

4. David J[oy] BROOKS. Born in 1823 in Chautauqua Co NY. David J[oy] died in Madison Co IL, in 1867; he was 44. Buried in Short Cemetery, Alton IL. On 12 Feb 1846 when David J[oy] was 23, he married Mary Maria VANATTA in Madison Co IL. Mary Maria died on 14 Jul 1868. They had the following children in both 1850 and 1860, although the 1855 State census, possibly for this man since it was a few houses from several Vanatta families, reads D Brooks: 31001/10031.

John R (ca1846-)

Aaron (ca1849-)

5. Joshua P BROOKS. Born in 1824 in Chautauqua Co NY. On 8 Oct 1857 when Joshua P was 33, he married Mary Ann LEE in Madison Co IL. Born ca 1832 in IL. They had the following children in 1870:

Sarah (1868-)

Mary M (1870-)

6. Harriett M BROOKS. Born in 1825 in Chautauqua Co NY. Harriett died before 1867. On 21 Dec 1845, she married Lewis N TAPP in Madison Co IL. Born ca 1821 in VA. Lewis died in Jackson Co MO, on 8 Sep 1888.

7. Sylvanus BROOKS. Born in 1827 in Chautauqua Co NY. He was living at the time of the settlement of his father’s estate. On 5 Jun 1851, William Hill acted as guardian for Silvanus Brooks.

8. (son) BROOKS. Born in say 1828, but not living in 1849.

9. Lucy Ann BROOKS. Born in 1830 in Chautauqua Co NY. On 23 May 1850 when Lucy Ann was 20, she married James McCARVER in Madison Co IL. He was born in 1830 in IL and as James “McCuvey” was working in the household next door to Lucy’s residence in 1850.

10. (daughter) BROOKS. Born in say 1832, but not living in 1849.

11. (daughter) BROOKS. Born in say 1834, but not living in 1849.

12. Elias Fort BROOKS. Born on 22 Feb 1835 in Madison Co IL. Elias died in Texas Co MO, on 18 Dec 1907; he was 72. On 22 Sep 1859 when Elias Fort was 24, he married Phebe MOORE. Born ca 1840 in IL. They had the following children:

Beth A (1860-)

Frank M (1863-)

John D (1864-)

Charles (1870-)

Thomas J (1872-)

Mary Frances (1874-)

Phebe Ellis (1878-)

Nannie Bell (1879-)

John [again] G (1886-)

13. Frances BROOKS. Born on 17 Jan 1837 in Fosterburg, Madison Co IL. Frances died in Irving, Montgomery Co IL, on 13 Jan 1917. Buried on 16 Jan 1917 in Nokomis, Montgomery Co IL. On 14 Dec 1856 when Frances was 19, she first married William Henry Harrison ALVIS, son of James Woodson ALVIS & Leatha/Luvina Merrick PULLIAM, in Madison Co IL. Born on 11 Jan 1832 in MO. William Henry Harrison died in Brighton, Macoupin Co IL, on 17 Apr 1874; he was 42. They had the following children:

Cora (1857-1925)

Isabella (1857-)

Edward Amandus (Mayflower Descendant) (1861-1934)

William Elmer (1869-1924)

On 5 Jul 1883 when Frances was 46, she second married Martin HARKEY in Nokomis, Montgomery Co IL. Born ca 1803. Martin died on 18 Nov 1893.

14. Hannah Foster BROOKS. Born in 1839 in Madison Co IL. Hannah died in Dickinson Co KS. In say 1864, she married Thomas Sebastian WILSON in IL. Born ca 1830 in IL. They had the following children:

Alice Eva (1865-)

Omar P (1867-)

Anna G (1872-)

15. Permelia BROOKS. Born in 1840 in Madison Co IL. She was living at the time her father’s estate was settled and in the 1850 census.

16. Asa BROOKS. Born in 1843 in Madison Co IL. Asa was living in Fosterburg, Madison Co IL, in 1880; he was possibly charged with larceny, according The Edwardsville Intelligencer, 21 Oct 1891. The same newspaper stated on 23 Mar 1892, that the case was declared “nolle by state” and defendant dismissed. Along with two other men, the 6 Mar 1896 paper announced, Asa Brooks brought suit against Thomas Delahanty for damages “for false arrest and imprisonment on charge of burglary in city of Alton.” Two weeks later, each of the three plaintiffs had to give security for costs. On 24 Apr 1896, the cases were dismissed because the plaintiffs did not file the bonds.

[2] I investigated the US Postal Service records for that era. Catherine L Mason, of the Buffalo and Erie Co Historical Society wrote me in 1993 that “records before 1880 are almost unheard of in this area.” She sent a page from Pitt Petri, The Postal History of Western NY: Its Post Offices, Its Postmasters 1895-1960, which states on page 299 that most records were destroyed when Washington was burned by the British in 1814 and again in a Department of the Post Office fire in 1836.

[3] William Ketchum, An Authentic and Comprehensive History of Buffalo… 1864-65, which I found on microfiche at the Laredo Community College Library.

[4] Since neither Asa nor Anna could sign their names, I consider this name the biggest clue to Asa’s parents; for years I looked for a Brooks-Barton connection in NY, before I discovered the Brooks-Boughton marriage. Think a New England accent with an Illinois county clerk, who wrote “Barton.”

[14] Barton’s children. He married Nancy Rhoads, 21 Nov 1844 in Madison Co IL. She was the daughter of Samuel H and Anna Catherine (Waggoner) Rhoads and married second Thomas Waggoner on 16 Jun 1852. Two probable older children from 1845 State census must have died before Asa’s estate.

[15] Frances was baptized April 1853 at the Mount Olive Baptist Church, east of Alton IL. Also members there were Nancy (sister-in-law), Elias, Hannah, Asa, George, Catherine, and several other Brooks relatives.

[16] Based on his 1850 census, I would guess that his brother and sister are meant, not his own children

Asa Brooks was born about 1792, in “the area outside Fort Niagara.”[1] Asa himself said he was the first white child born in this area of western New York. H. C. Taylor, who appears to have known Asa, says in his Historical Sketches of the Town of Portland: “Mr. Brooks claimed to have been the first white child b[orn] in Buffalo, N.Y. He disputed with a good deal of energy the claim to this honor with a daughter of Asa Ransom, who was afterward the wife of F. B. Merrill of Cheektowaga. Mrs. Merrill is claimed to have been the first white child b[orn] in all that region outside the walls of fort Niagara. Of the facts the writer has no means of knowing. Mr. Brooks was in Canada at the opening of the war of 1812, but soon returned and enlisted in the U. S. army. Towards the end of the war he was wounded in both arms. He came to P[ortland] in 1815, m[arried] Anna, dau[ghter] of David Joy, and for several years carried the mail between Buffalo and Erie on houseback.[2] He purchased fifty acres of land of Elijah Fay, p[ar]t lot 40, T[ownship] 5, which he occupied in 1820. He was a mason by trade and a member of the Baptist church in P[ortland]. He removed to Illinois in 1830 or ’31.”

Asa Ransom, mentioned above, was a native of Sheffield MA, who moved to the Geneva NY area ca 1789 and to the Buffalo area ca 1798; he was listed as a resident in 1801. According to William Ketchum, there were 4-5 houses in Buffalo in 1798.[3] Sylvanus Mabee came to the area in 1796-7 from Canada. There were 14 landowners in 1801, no one named Brooks, although a Judge James Brooks was in Buffalo by 1808. All previous records were burned in 1813. The 1800 census for Northampton Township, Ontario Co NY shows Asa Ransom, John Palmer, and Sylvanus Mabee on page 310, among the first names in the township.

It is the opinion of this writer that Asa was one of the numerous children of Michael and Elizabeth (Boughton) Brooks. I have these clues to Asa’s parentage:

His oldest son was Barton Brooks. I have been unable to locate any Brooks/Barton connections, but I did find a Brooks family in Western New York with strong Boughton/Baughton connections.[4]

Asa’s second son was Charles Hiram Brooks. A probable son of Michael and Elizabeth (Boughton) Brooks of Bloomfield, Ontario Co NY was Hiram Brooks.[5] I have not identified the Hiram Brooks who was next door to a likely son Charles in 1840 in Bloomfield, Ontario Co NY.

Asa was born in western NY; Michael was there before 1800.

Several members of Michael Brooks’s family moved to Illinois or other places in the west. Hiram Brooks was one county away from Asa’s family in 1850.

Asa was a Baptist; some of the Boughtons were Baptists.

After I assumed Michael Brooks was Asa’s father, I was pleased to see a bit more confirmation in the fact that Michael was found by 1820 in Genesee [later Wyoming] Co NY, much closer to Chautauqua County.

In the War of 1812, Asa served as a Private, Capt Hull’s Co, US Infantry. His lengthy pension file shows that he was shot through both arms and moved to Madison Co IL ca 1836.[6]

Asa purchased land in Chautauqua Co NY in 1817[7] and in 1820; Asa and his wife Anna sold the land in 1832.[8] Asa Brooks purchased land in Madison Co IL in 1834.[9] A Madison County history written in 1882 states that Asa was “among the early residents of the township.”[10] Additional facts about the early residents of this Illinois county are of interest. “The early settlers were almost wholly American.” And “Fosterburg has always been safely Republican.”[11]

The Federal Censuses show a growing family for Asa and Anna, who married according to Taylor about 1815.[12] In 1820, their family was in Chautauqua Co NY, Portland Twp, p 128, Asa Brooks (indexed as Ira): 100010/11100. In 1830, they were in Chautauqua Co NY: Asa Brooks, 231001/101001. In 1840, they had moved, Madison Co IL, p 148: Asa Brooks, 1023001/211001; see also the 1840 Veterans’ Census.

Asa and family were in the 1845 Illinois State census, Fosterburg Twp: Asa Brooks, 142001/34001. Anna was still alive and, based on the census record, had given birth by then to at least 16 children. My aunt Nellie (Alvis) (Becker) Penfield (1887-1980) wrote me that her grandmother was one of 18 children. Asa’s oldest son, Barton Brooks was also in the 1845 census, but had died by 1850.

Although known as a Baptist, Asa Brooks had married Anna Joy, from a Universalist family. Several of their children were baptized and joined the Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Madison Co IL after the deaths of the parents.[15]

The known children of Asa and Anna (Joy) Brooks are listed below. For some of their children, descendants are known, and only a few can be guessed from several censuses.

1. Barton BROOKS. Born in 1817 in Chautauqua Co NY. Barton died in Madison Co IL, ca 1848; he was 31. On 21 Nov 1844 when Barton was 27, he married Nancy RHOADS in Madison Co IL. They had the following children, possibly two others who died young:

George W (ca1845-1860)

Anna Catherine (ca1846-1864)

2. Mary BROOKS. Born on 26 Jan 1819 in Chautauqua Co NY. Mary died in Madison Co IL. Buried in Short Cemetery, Alton IL. On 31 Mar 1835 when Mary was 16, she married William E HILL in Madison Co IL. Born on 11 Jan 1807 in Livingston Co KY. He married first Martha Wilson, Livingston Co KY. Child with his first wife, Anthony, b ca 1830, d ca 1880. History of Madison Co IL (1882) says first son was Anthony. William E died on 25 Apr 1890. At one time this couple lived in Dickinson Co KS. They had the following children:

David L (ca1836-<1882)

Ephraim W (ca1837-<1882)

Anna M (ca1839->1882)

William Henry (1841-1901)

Mary (ca1842-<1882)

Hannah M (ca1845-<1882)

Charlotte A (ca1850->1882)

John (ca1852-<1882)

George (1854->1882)

Harriet (ca1855-<1882)

Margaret (ca1854-<1882)

John [again in census] (ca1856->1882)

Allace (ca1858-<1870)

Martha (->1882)

3. Charles Hiram BROOKS. Born on 17 Feb 1821 in Chautauqua Co NY. Charles Hiram died in Madison Co IL, on 18 Dec 1861. On 3 Feb 1848 when Charles Hiram was 26, he married Sarah Minerva HILLHOUSE in Madison Co IL. Born on 25 Jan 1827 in Bethany Twp, Livingston Co KY. Sarah Minerva died in Madison Co IL, on 23 Feb 1869; she was 42. The Henry Family by Eron M. Sharp of Memphis, Tennessee, 1961, states that “Sarah had no children of her own that helped raise children of Mr. Brooks by former marriage.”[16]

4. David J[oy] BROOKS. Born in 1823 in Chautauqua Co NY. David J[oy] died in Madison Co IL, in 1867; he was 44. Buried in Short Cemetery, Alton IL. On 12 Feb 1846 when David J[oy] was 23, he married Mary Maria VANATTA in Madison Co IL. Mary Maria died on 14 Jul 1868. They had the following children in both 1850 and 1860, although the 1855 State census, possibly for this man since it was a few houses from several Vanatta families, reads D Brooks: 31001/10031.

John R (ca1846-)

Aaron (ca1849-)

5. Joshua P BROOKS. Born in 1824 in Chautauqua Co NY. On 8 Oct 1857 when Joshua P was 33, he married Mary Ann LEE in Madison Co IL. Born ca 1832 in IL. They had the following children in 1870:

Sarah (1868-)

Mary M (1870-)

6. Harriett M BROOKS. Born in 1825 in Chautauqua Co NY. Harriett died before 1867. On 21 Dec 1845, she married Lewis N TAPP in Madison Co IL. Born ca 1821 in VA. Lewis died in Jackson Co MO, on 8 Sep 1888.

7. Sylvanus BROOKS. Born in 1827 in Chautauqua Co NY. He was living at the time of the settlement of his father’s estate. On 5 Jun 1851, William Hill acted as guardian for Silvanus Brooks.

8. (son) BROOKS. Born in say 1828, but not living in 1849.

9. Lucy Ann BROOKS. Born in 1830 in Chautauqua Co NY. On 23 May 1850 when Lucy Ann was 20, she married James McCARVER in Madison Co IL. He was born in 1830 in IL and as James “McCuvey” was working in the household next door to Lucy’s residence in 1850.

10. (daughter) BROOKS. Born in say 1832, but not living in 1849.

11. (daughter) BROOKS. Born in say 1834, but not living in 1849.

12. Elias Fort BROOKS. Born on 22 Feb 1835 in Madison Co IL. Elias died in Texas Co MO, on 18 Dec 1907; he was 72. On 22 Sep 1859 when Elias Fort was 24, he married Phebe MOORE. Born ca 1840 in IL. They had the following children:

Beth A (1860-)

Frank M (1863-)

John D (1864-)

Charles (1870-)

Thomas J (1872-)

Mary Frances (1874-)

Phebe Ellis (1878-)

Nannie Bell (1879-)

John [again] G (1886-)

13. Frances BROOKS. Born on 17 Jan 1837 in Fosterburg, Madison Co IL. Frances died in Irving, Montgomery Co IL, on 13 Jan 1917. Buried on 16 Jan 1917 in Nokomis, Montgomery Co IL. On 14 Dec 1856 when Frances was 19, she first married William Henry Harrison ALVIS, son of James Woodson ALVIS & Leatha/Luvina Merrick PULLIAM, in Madison Co IL. Born on 11 Jan 1832 in MO. William Henry Harrison died in Brighton, Macoupin Co IL, on 17 Apr 1874; he was 42. They had the following children:

Cora (1857-1925)

Isabella (1857-)

Edward Amandus (Mayflower Descendant) (1861-1934)

William Elmer (1869-1924)

On 5 Jul 1883 when Frances was 46, she second married Martin HARKEY in Nokomis, Montgomery Co IL. Born ca 1803. Martin died on 18 Nov 1893.

14. Hannah Foster BROOKS. Born in 1839 in Madison Co IL. Hannah died in Dickinson Co KS. In say 1864, she married Thomas Sebastian WILSON in IL. Born ca 1830 in IL. They had the following children:

Alice Eva (1865-)

Omar P (1867-)

Anna G (1872-)

15. Permelia BROOKS. Born in 1840 in Madison Co IL. She was living at the time her father’s estate was settled and in the 1850 census.

16. Asa BROOKS. Born in 1843 in Madison Co IL. Asa was living in Fosterburg, Madison Co IL, in 1880; he was possibly charged with larceny, according The Edwardsville Intelligencer, 21 Oct 1891. The same newspaper stated on 23 Mar 1892, that the case was declared “nolle by state” and defendant dismissed. Along with two other men, the 6 Mar 1896 paper announced, Asa Brooks brought suit against Thomas Delahanty for damages “for false arrest and imprisonment on charge of burglary in city of Alton.” Two weeks later, each of the three plaintiffs had to give security for costs. On 24 Apr 1896, the cases were dismissed because the plaintiffs did not file the bonds.

[2] I investigated the US Postal Service records for that era. Catherine L Mason, of the Buffalo and Erie Co Historical Society wrote me in 1993 that “records before 1880 are almost unheard of in this area.” She sent a page from Pitt Petri, The Postal History of Western NY: Its Post Offices, Its Postmasters 1895-1960, which states on page 299 that most records were destroyed when Washington was burned by the British in 1814 and again in a Department of the Post Office fire in 1836.

[3] William Ketchum, An Authentic and Comprehensive History of Buffalo… 1864-65, which I found on microfiche at the Laredo Community College Library.

[4] Since neither Asa nor Anna could sign their names, I consider this name the biggest clue to Asa’s parents; for years I looked for a Brooks-Barton connection in NY, before I discovered the Brooks-Boughton marriage. Think a New England accent with an Illinois county clerk, who wrote “Barton.”

[14] Barton’s children. He married Nancy Rhoads, 21 Nov 1844 in Madison Co IL. She was the daughter of Samuel H and Anna Catherine (Waggoner) Rhoads and married second Thomas Waggoner on 16 Jun 1852. Two probable older children from 1845 State census must have died before Asa’s estate.

[15] Frances was baptized April 1853 at the Mount Olive Baptist Church, east of Alton IL. Also members there were Nancy (sister-in-law), Elias, Hannah, Asa, George, Catherine, and several other Brooks relatives.

[16] Based on his 1850 census, I would guess that his brother and sister are meant, not his own children.

Hi,
I’m looking for information on Marsena Brooks, an original settler of Town of Ashford, Cattaraugus Co., NY.

“Marsena BROOKS, from Hampden County, NY did not settle in the town until about 1822. He remained till about 1829, when he removed to Ellicottville, and from thence to Ohio.

The jury list of Ellicottville for 1823 shows the names of those liable to jury duty who were residents within the portion of the town above referred to as part of the present town of Ashford, namely:

Marsena BROOKS, farmer
Charles BOSS, farmer
Others”

I believe he was born in Boston in the early 1800’s or late 1790’s. I’m looking for his ancestry as I have most of his lineage, my family amongst them. I’m also looking for information on Elmyra Louise Brooks and her twin Albert, born in Buffalo, May 6, 1833. Elmyra is my great-great grandmother. Thanks!

Update on information above, my ggg-grandmother’s name is correctly Almira Louise Brooks, born May 6,1833, possibly Erie or Genesee Co., NY. Albert is not a twin but a year younger, a I believe. The family lived in this area during the 1830s before moving to Denmark, Ashtabula Co., OH. Almira Louise is daughter of Marcena/Marsena Brooks b. 1789 MA, son of Sylvanus Brooks b.1750. Almira has atleast 4 other siblings, if not 8. Mother Sarah Boss Brooks.

Further research- ggggg-grandfather Sylvanus Brooks has a brother Asa Brooks, however their parents are Edward Brooks & Ann Hayward Brooks. Sylvanus is born 1750 in Warren, MA. I have no birth info on Asa. Sylvanus & Asa were two of 11 siblings. Sylvanus’ son Marcena/ Marsena, my gggg-grandfather moved to NY and lived in multiple locations in NY before moving to OH. The family descendents moved west to MI from there. Looking for info on family and birth info on my ggg-grandmother Almira Louise Brooks (m. Ives), possibly born Erie or Genesee Co. 5/6/1833. Thanks.

I have recently discovered Samuel H Waggoner who was born to Thomas about 1823 and moved to the Godfrey area by the census of 1850. Having been born in Pittsfield, Pike, IL, I am amazed to see so many of my Waggoner line move to this area. If you have information about Samuel H, I would be most interested to share. Eleven years ago we moved to Grafton and have found many of my Waggoners living in this area.